Sweet peas are not difficult to grow but they can be difficult to grow well.

Basic Problems with Sweet Peas

• Leggy seedlings are caused by high temperatures of insufficient light. Move to cooler, brighter locations.
• Powdery mildew and yellow mottling on leaves is caused by viruses. Control with a fungicide like Systhane.
• Aphids can be controlled by an insecticide.
• Scorched foliage can be caused by drought or temperature stress.

Culture Problems

• Flower production stops as soon as seed is set. Deadhead regularly – picking sweet peas for a vase is a great form of deadheading.
• Sweet peas need appropriate support. Netting should not be to constricted or flower stalks will get bent and curved.
• Seeds need to take up water to germinate. I soak mine in water with a small drop of soap to break the water meniscus. Other tips include chipping the outer coating of seeds or rubbing them with sandpaper.
• Sweet peas are great drinkers so water well when you do water, don’t just dribble.
• Sweet peas grow rapidly during spring so provide plenty of rich compost for the roots.
• You can sow seed as late and April but earlier sowings a make for a better flower display.
• If you want spectacular blooms grow as cordons and pinch out the tendril so all the plants energy goes into flower production.

by Graham Rice

Your Sweet Peas should now be full and robust flower. I hope you bunches of picked peas are scenting the house.

Sweet Pea Reminders

• Pick the flowers regularly, any you do not pick must be deadhead regularly. This encourages new flowers, leaving them on says to the plant ‘the job of producing seed has been done’ and the Sweet Pea shuts down flower production.
• Water your Sweet Peas with a regular and good soaking.
• Sweet Peas will continue to grow and flower at the top. Some growers lay the haulms down and train plants back up the next support.
• A foliar feed of half strength tomato fertilizer may help revive tired plants (at least it makes me think I am doing some thing.
• Did I mention picking and deadheading.

Perennial Sweet Peas

• I have several perennial sweet peas that have been a bit late flowering this year. They are all over six feet tall and still going.
• Lathyrus latifolius Red Pearl, White Pearl or Rosa Perle are favourite varieties.
• The RHS comments that perennial sweet peas can be used as ground cover if left to scramble unsupported.
• Everlasting Sweet Peas from Thompson Morgan